'''Reductio ad absurdum''' is a type of [[logic]]al [[argument]] where one assumes a claim for the sake of argument, arrives at an "absurd" result (often a [[contradiction]]), and then concludes that the original assumption must have been wrong, since it led to this absurd result.

'''Reductio ad absurdum''' is a type of [[logic]]al [[argument]] where one assumes a claim for the sake of argument, arrives at an "absurd" result (often a [[contradiction]]), and then concludes that the original assumption must have been wrong, since it led to this absurd result.

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Note that this is a [[Validity vs. soundness|logically valid]] technique. It is a form of ''modus tolens'', an inference rule which takes this form:

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Note that this is a [[Validity vs. soundness|logically valid]] technique that usually takes one of two forms:

* Use ''[[wikipedia:Modus_tollens|modus tollens]]'' to conclude that '''P''' itself must be false.

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An example (from [[wikipedia:number theory|number theory]]) of the first form of this type of argument is:

* Assume there are finitely many [[wikipedia:prime number|prime numbers]] and call this number ''N''.

* Assume there are finitely many [[wikipedia:prime number|prime numbers]] and call this number ''N''.

* We can therefore list all ''N'' prime numbers: 2,&nbsp;3,&nbsp;5,&nbsp;...,&nbsp;''p''<sub>''N''</sub>.

* We can therefore list all ''N'' prime numbers: 2,&nbsp;3,&nbsp;5,&nbsp;...,&nbsp;''p''<sub>''N''</sub>.

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* Thus we have found a prime number not appearing in our list of ''N'' prime numbers and thus there are at least ''N''&nbsp;+&nbsp;1 prime numbers. This is a contradiction.

* Thus we have found a prime number not appearing in our list of ''N'' prime numbers and thus there are at least ''N''&nbsp;+&nbsp;1 prime numbers. This is a contradiction.

* Therefore, we have to reject our original assumption. There must be infinitely many prime numbers.

* Therefore, we have to reject our original assumption. There must be infinitely many prime numbers.

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An example of the second form of this type of argument comes from [[wikipedia:Euclid|Euclid]]'s ''[[wikipedia:Euclid's_Elements|Elements]]'' which states that if two circles cut each other, they must have different centers:

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* Assume that if two circles cut each other, they have the same center ''Z''.

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* The length of a ray ''ZC'' to one of the cuts ''C'' (a point lying on both circles) must therefore equal the length of a ray ''ZA'' to a point ''A'' on the first circle that is not also on the second circle.

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* The line forming this ray, however, must also cut the second circle at a point ''B'' and the length of ''ZB'' therefore be different from the length of ''ZA''.

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* But, be definition, ''ZB'' equals the length of the ray ''ZC''.

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* Things which are equal to a common thing must therefore be equal to each other. Thus, the length of ''ZA'' must equal the length of ''ZB''.

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* We have therefore deduced that the lengths of ''ZA'' and ''ZB'' must be both equal and unequal.

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* Therefore, the original assumption is false: the circles must have different centers.

==Counter-apologetics==

==Counter-apologetics==

Revision as of 08:55, 16 October 2010

Reductio ad absurdum is a type of logicalargument where one assumes a claim for the sake of argument, arrives at an "absurd" result (often a contradiction), and then concludes that the original assumption must have been wrong, since it led to this absurd result.

Note that this is a logically valid technique that usually takes one of two forms:

Notice that q is not divisible by any of these primes up to pN, since the remainder, when q is divided by any the primes, will always be 1. (For example, q divided by 2 gives the quotient 3 × 5 × 7 × 11 × ··· × pN, with remainder 1.)

So q is either prime (e.g., 2×3×5 + 1 = 31) or it is divisible by a prime number which has not yet been listed (e.g., 2×3×5×7×11×13 + 1 = 30031 = 51×509). In either case, either q or one of its prime factors does not appear in our list of N prime numbers.

Thus we have found a prime number not appearing in our list of N prime numbers and thus there are at least N + 1 prime numbers. This is a contradiction.

Therefore, we have to reject our original assumption. There must be infinitely many prime numbers.

An example of the second form of this type of argument comes from Euclid's Elements which states that if two circles cut each other, they must have different centers:

Assume that if two circles cut each other, they have the same center Z.

The length of a ray ZC to one of the cuts C (a point lying on both circles) must therefore equal the length of a ray ZA to a point A on the first circle that is not also on the second circle.

The line forming this ray, however, must also cut the second circle at a point B and the length of ZB therefore be different from the length of ZA.

But, be definition, ZB equals the length of the ray ZC.

Things which are equal to a common thing must therefore be equal to each other. Thus, the length of ZA must equal the length of ZB.

We have therefore deduced that the lengths of ZA and ZB must be both equal and unequal.

Therefore, the original assumption is false: the circles must have different centers.

Counter-apologetics

The problem with this type of argument is that the "absurdity" one reaches must actually be a logical contradiction in order for the argument to be valid. If the conclusion is simply unlikely, then the argument doesn't necessarily work. For example:

Well... no. Ignoring the fact that the premise is faulty (as its possible, however unlikely that life arose by something other than purely natural means) the absurdity is not shown. The assertion that its absurd is only used to come to the conclusion that God did it. The person that would be making this argument does not know how life arose, so to assume anything other than a deity seems absurd. (See: God of the gaps)